Everyone who has visited the Park knows Fred and Lola. They’re celebrities in the WILD! These two reticulated giraffes make guests’ dining more majestic at The Outpost.  

The Park announced last year that Lola was expecting a calf. Everyone, guests and team members included, was excited for the most awaited arrival of the baby giraffe. Indeed, one of the newest members in the WILD is the calf of Lola. The Park has been working with the new calf on adjusting to its new surroundings. It will be making a debut to the public anytime this year. 

Are you curious about its name and looks, too? Don’t worry, we will show you photos of our newest baby giraffe soon! 

But before that, here are five interesting facts about baby giraffes you may want to know.

1. Did you know that after 10 hours after birth, a baby giraffe can run?

When a baby giraffe is born, it struggles to stand and walk on its feet. However, after minutes of practice, the baby giraffe can already walk and after 10 hours, it can already run at full speed. Interesting, right?

2. Did you know that a baby giraffe uses its bottom to sleep?

Imagine this, a baby giraffe reaching its long neck around its body to rest its head on its bottom to sleep. Yes, that’s how a baby giraffe sleeps for about three or four hours, but it can also sleep standing up only for a few minutes.

3. Did you know that a baby giraffe can moo like a cow?

Moo! Yes, a baby giraffe’s voice is more familiar than you might think.

4. Did you know that a baby giraffe is six-feet tall when it is born?

Yes, a baby giraffe is a giant baby. It’s born to be taller than the average human. Aside from being 6ft tall, a calf usually weighs 220 pounds.

5. Did you know that a baby giraffe gets its spot patterns from its mother?

The orange spot patterns in a baby giraffe are unique. The calf gets those spot patterns from its mother, according to new research. In a study published in the PeerJ journal, scientists Derek Lee, Monica Bond, and Douglas Cavener found that certain aspects of a giraffe’s spot pattern are heritable. In the same study, the scientists said that these inherited spots impact a young giraffe’s likelihood of survival. The spot patterns help protect them from predators in the wild and also help maintain the body temperature.

Sources:

Dunlap, W. by S. (2021, October 18). Baby Giraffe: 9 facts and 9 pictures. AZ Animals. Retrieved January 20, 2022, from https://a-z-animals.com/blog/baby-giraffe-9-pictures-and-facts/

Root, T. (2021, May 3). Baby giraffes get their spots from mom. Animals. Retrieved January 20, 2022, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/giraffe-spots-animal-coat-patterns-camouflage-news#:~:text=The%20distinctive%20patterns%20are%20inherited,that%20links%20spots%20to%20survival.&text=In%20particular%2C%20mothers%20giraffes%20appear,tortuousness%E2%80%9D)%20on%20to%20calfs.